Drawer with card retaining rod

ABSTRACT

A drawer for filing cards which includes a retaining rod for holding file cards and a release knob which is normally recessed in the front panel of the drawer to block tampering. The rod and knob are normally held in position by a pair of metal wings secured to the rod which block withdrawal through a hole in the panel. A release plate can be pressed toward the panel to compress the wings and push the knob to a position where it may be grasped and withdrawn.

United States Patent Huck [451 Apr. 25, 1972 [541 DRAWER WITH CARD RETAINING 1,918,428 7 1933 Roscoe 402/61 ROD 2,523,722 9/1950 Saafet a1 ...402/502 ux 3,370,591 2 196 ..4 2 [72] Inventor: Charles M. Huck, New Brunswick, NJ. 8 Coe 02/50 bx [73] Assignee: Estey Corporation, Red Bank, NJ. Primary Examiner.|erome Schnall [22] Filed p 25 968 Att0rney.lames M. Heilman and Heilman & Heilman [21] Appl. No.: 762,556 [57] ABSTRACT A drawer for filing cards which includes a retaining rod for [52] [LS-Cl ..402/61,402/502 h ldi fil cards and a release knob which is normally [51] Int. Cl. ..B42f l3/l4 recessed in the from wind f the drawer to block tampering [58] Fleld ofSearch ..402/502, 61, 63, 70; 312/330, The rod and knob are normally held in position b a pair f metal wings secured to the rod which block withdrawal through a hole in the panel. A release plate can be pressed [56] References and toward the panel to compress the wings and push the knob to a UNITED STATES PATENTS position where it may be grasped and withdrawn. 692,525 2/1902 Kelly et a1. ..402/502 UX 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures I I 5 82 I I0 j\ 16 20 20 /38 I E W 40 36 mg m; W4 I PATENTED APR 25' m2 SHEET 10F 3 FIG. I.

INVENTOR CHARLES M. HUCK ATTORNEY.

PATEMTEDAPR 25 m2 SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR CHARLES M. HUCK ATTORNEY.

CHARLES M.'HUCK ATTORNEY.

54 INVENTOR DRAWER WITH CARD RETAINING ROD The invention relates to a drawer for filing cards, files, and the like. The usual retaining rod is positioned along the bottom of the drawer, passing through a hole in the front panel and extending into a hole in the rear panel. A release knob is secured to the front end of the rod but is normally recessed in a hole in the front panel to prevent the withdrawal of the rod. The rod and its knob are also held in place by a plurality of wings secured to the rod and extending toward the panel at an angle from the rod axis so that the ends of the wings block withdrawal. The rod may be withdrawn by compressing the wings toward the rod so that they may be pulled through the hole in the front panel. A release plate is provided for this purpose.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved filing cabinet construction in which there is a main cabinet housing and at least one file drawer or tray movable into and out of said cabinet, and including novel releasable locking means for the contents of the file tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved filing cabinet in which there is at least one file tray slidably engageable in the cabinet and constructed for receiving file cards, files and the like, a retaining rod member for securing the file cards in the tray, and novel releasable locking means for locking said rod member in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved filing cabinet tray construction in which there is a front wall closing the tray chamber at the front and a slidable follower panel inside the chamber so that file cards and the like are receivable therebetween.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved filing cabinet construction which is simple in design, formed of a limited number of parts mainly of light weight sheet materials, and which can be fabricated at low cost by mass production methods, the construction being very rugged so as to permit continued long life under severe stresses in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a side elevation of a file drawer according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially through a median plane of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation similar to FIG. 2 but showing the retaining rod and the release plate.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on plane 4-4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a left end elevational view of the drawer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation taken on plane 6--6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a locking rod release knob.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the release knob of FIG. 7, indicating the rod in fragment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevation taken on plane 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a follower panel seen also in FIG. 3.

In connection with such office and library equipment as filing cabinets, card files and the like, various problems have arisen for which the present invention presents solutions. Thus the filing cabinetry should fit the need so that one or more file drawers can be provided and wherein they can be fitted slidably into the openings in the cabinet.

With the present invention the cabinet sections are easily manufactured of low cost light weight sheet materials and use may be made of extrusion molding if desired, for further lessening of the labor and cost. The file drawers are of novel and attractive construction. They not only can be of any length to accommodate the maximum number of file cards or files, but are also equipped with effective follower panels and file retaining rods. By a novel construction, the outer ends of the rods are normally retracted flush with the face walls of the drawers and thus rendered tamper proof. A special release mechanism permits the rods to protrude when needed to insert or remove files or cards.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention and the best means for carrying it out, reference may be had to the drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is a filing cabinet drawer or tray 10 with a floor wall 12 interconnecting side walls 14 and 16. A rear wall is shown at 18, and it may be noted that the walls l4, l6 and 18 have their upper edges 20 enlarged or rolled over to form reinforcing ribs or flanges. Where the material used in making the drawer 10 is plastic, it can be molded or cast by known plastic casting or molding methods so as to make a homogeneous whole drawer. The edges, and corners inside and out may be slightly rounded off to enable easy cleaning of dust with a brush or vacuum cleaner.

At the front end of the drawer, shown at the right sides of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is the front or face wall or panel 22. This may be molded integrally with the floor wall and side walls, or may be formed separately and secured in place by screws or other means, including adhesives if desired. From its lower edge 24 the front wall rises to top edge 26 while the outer side shoulders 28 extend slightly higher on each side of the central portion of the front wall.

As seen best in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a sloping overhang portion and a depending skirt wall32, forming a downwardly open hand grip recess 34 for pulling the drawer outwardly from the cabinet shown in FIG. 12.

As seen best in FIG. 3, a file card retaining and guide rod 36 extends the length of the file drawer 10, having its rearward end 38 releasably inserted through a hole 40 formed in skirt wall 42 which may be molded integral with wall I8. The front end 44 of rod 36 extends inside the bore 46 in the locking rod release knob 48, and for movement together is either pressed therein cemented therein or otherwise secured therein.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 there is a hole 50 formed or drilled through the lower portion of front panel 22 to receive the rod release knob 48, and it is seen that the knob head 52 fits slidably through hole 50. The release knob 48, as seen also in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, has a cylindrical portion 54, and a pair of resilient wings 58 formed integral with a washer type base 56.

As seen best in FIGS. 3, and 7-9, the object is to cause the release knob 48 to remain normally flush with the surface of front panel 22 (see FIG. 3), thus blocking tampering with it by anyone except authorized persons, and preventing such tampering from outside the file drawer.

The release knob 48 is preferably formed of decorative plastic material which can be injection molded and in which the spring wings 58 spring outwardly to normal extended locking positions (FIG. 3) so that the spring ends are larger than hole 50 and the knob cannot be withdrawn. In order to effect release of the locking knob 48 and its attached rod 36, it is necessary to compress the extended locking wings 58 from their FIG. 3 normal positions.

For this purpose a pair of spaced stub walls 62 are formed integral with front wall 22 and project rearwardly therefrom toward rear wall 18 and have pivot holes 64 formed therein to receive a pivot shaft 66 which extends through a turned-over top edge 68 (FIG. 3) of the knob release pendulum 70.

As seen also in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pendulum 70 is formed of sheet material, such as stainless steel, with resilient qualities or other materials having similar qualities, and may be tapered as at 72 in FIG. 4. The bottom portion 74 of the releasing pendulum 70 extends through an opening 76 in the floor 12 of the drawer 10 so as to swing therein. It has a formed hole 80 which is of substantially less diameter than hole 50, but is large enough to receive the base portion of the locking wings as illustrated in FIG. 3.

In order to release knob 48 and hence the rod 36, the drawer is opened, and by finger pressure on the releasing pendulum 70 the wings 58 are compressed to a diameter less than hole 50 in the front panel and at the same time cammed to cause the knob to protrude to the right as seen in FIG. out of hole 50. Hence the knob may be grasped and the rod pulled out partially or as needed to free any desired portion of the cards stacked thereon. On depressing the knob 48, it is again automatically locked flush with the front panel.

As seen in FIG. 5, a follower panel 81 may be formed of sheet material, such as sheet metal, plastics, impregnated paper and so forth of suitable strength, and may be folded over at its upper end 82. FIG. also shows the follower panel 81 in perspective. A hole 84 allows the rod 36 to extend therethrough, and a guide platform 86 extends outwardly from the lower edge 88 of the panel 81, with two depending guide walls 90 on each side of the platform 86, and a depending end wall 98 carries a guide rail 100 which has end tongues 102 for slidably engaging under the margins of the floor slot 104 in the floor of the file drawer. The tongues 92 thus also engages the upper margins of the slot 104 and makes the slidable engagement of the panel 81 secure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, there is a face plate 106 which can be made of sheet plastic or metal. Its lower portion 108 is curved to conform generally to the curvature of the front wall surface 110 of wall of the drawer and snaps into the lower notch 112. At its upper end 114 it is bent over to terminate in a depending rear skirt wall 116 which snaps over the upper central edge of the front wall.

As shown in FIG. 4, the face plate 106 is slightly narrower than the front wall of the drawer, its edges 108 and 110 snapping in between the wall 116 to allow portions to be bent to firmly grip the wall edge therebelow. Side tongues 118 may also be integral with opposite edges of the curved portion 108 to be bent under wall portion 30 as seen in FIG. 3, to hold it in place.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I. A file cabinet drawer including a front panel and a retaining rod within the drawer for retaining filing means in the drawer, the improvement which comprises:

a. a knob secured to the retaining rod and positioned in a hole in the front panel, said knob including a head portion having an end lying flush with the outer surface of the front panel and a cylindrical portion extending beyond the inside surface of the front panel;

b. a pair of resiliently movable locking wings secured to the cylindrical portion of the knob and extending toward the panel at an angle therefrom, said wings formed integral with a washer type base secured to said knob and having a diameter less than the diameter of the hole in the front panel, said wings diverging from said base so that their free ends have a greater diameter extent than the hole diameter for holding the rod in its normal retaining position to normally block withdrawal of said knob from said hole; and

c. a rod release means secured to the front panel including a release plate pivoted at one edge and formed with a release opening disposed at the base of said wings with said resilient wings inside said release opening, whereby as said release plate is pressed toward said front panel, said locking wings are compressed toward each other by the edge of said release opening to a size less than the diameter of said knob receiving hole in the front panel and so that said knob and said rod are pushed toward the front panel so that the head portion protrudes outwardly of the knob receiving hole, whereby the head portion may be grasped to withdraw the rod.

2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rod extends for the length of the drawer and is positioned in a hole in the rear panel.

3. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wings and the washer type base are formed from a single piece of resilient sheet material. I I

4. The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein the retaining rod, the washer type base, and the knob are all in axial alignment. 

1. A file cabinet drawer including a front panel and a retaining rod within the drawer for retaining filing means in the drawer, the improvement which comprises: a. a knob secured to the retaining rod and positioned in a hole in the front panel, said knob including a head portion having an end lying flush with the outer surface of the front panel and a cylindrical portion extending beyond the inside surface of the front panel; b. a pair of resiliently movable locking wings secured to the cylindrical portion of the knob and extending toward the panel at an angle therefrom, said wings formed integral with a washer type base secured to said knob and having a diameter less than the diameter of the hole in the front panel, said wings divergiNg from said base so that their free ends have a greater diameter extent than the hole diameter for holding the rod in its normal retaining position to normally block withdrawal of said knob from said hole; and c. a rod release means secured to the front panel including a release plate pivoted at one edge and formed with a release opening disposed at the base of said wings with said resilient wings inside said release opening, whereby as said release plate is pressed toward said front panel, said locking wings are compressed toward each other by the edge of said release opening to a size less than the diameter of said knob receiving hole in the front panel and so that said knob and said rod are pushed toward the front panel so that the head portion protrudes outwardly of the knob receiving hole, whereby the head portion may be grasped to withdraw the rod.
 2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rod extends for the length of the drawer and is positioned in a hole in the rear panel.
 3. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wings and the washer type base are formed from a single piece of resilient sheet material.
 4. The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein the retaining rod, the washer type base, and the knob are all in axial alignment. 